Apparatus for winding slicing bands



Nov. 8, 1955 H. c. SIMMONS 2,723,087

APPARATUS FOR WINDING SLICING BANDS Filed April 2, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A C I-ISV VENTOR. t m 4R7 IMMO/VS Nov. 8, 1955 H. c. SIMMONS APPARATUS FOR WINDING SLICING BANDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1953 INVENTOR. Ham 4 C. SIMMONS BY @MM A rronmsys 2,723,087 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 2,723,087 APPARATUS FOR WINDING SLICKNG BANDS Haryl C. Simmons, Anoka, Minn. Application April 2, 1953, Serial No. 346,344

I 1 Claim. c1. 242-84.8)

The invention herein has relation to a novel and improved method of and a new and improved apparatus for winding into compact form, for ready, safe and economic handling and shipment, cutting bands of the type employed for slicing bread.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

Fig. l is a top plan view of an apparatus for winding slicing bands made according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus as it would appear from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2; or as on line 3-3 in Fig. 4; showing a slicing band as when wound and bound;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding generally with the disclosure of Fig. 3, showing a fragment of a slicing band as when being wound during commencement of the winding operation;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an apparatus of modified construction for winding slicing bands incorporating features and characteristics of the invention, disclosing a fragment of a slicing band at the commencement of the winding operation;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding generally with the disclosure of Fig. 6, showing a slicing band as when wound and bound; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view, taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, an apparatus there shown for practicing the method of the invention is constituted as a pair of separate entities one of which is a stationary base member 10 and the other of which is a rotatable actuator member 11.

The stationary base member 10 includes a body of rigid material having a flat forward surface 12 thereof peripherally bounded by a forwardly projecting, substantially circular element 13 which is integral with said body. The forward edge 14 of the circular element 13 is in a plane parallel with the fiat forward surface 12, and spaced marginal portions of the body and circumferentially spaced portions of said circular element are cut away, as denoted at 15 and 16, respectively. Together, the flat forward surface 12 and the circular element 13 provide or define a circular concavity 17 bounded at the bottom thereof by the flat forward surface 12 and at the side thereof by said circular element.

In the disclosure as made, the forwardly projecting, substantially circular element 13 is, in fact, constituted as three separate forwardly projecting walls, a first one of which, represented 18, is of arc-shape and is situated between the cutaway portions 15 and 16, a second one of which, denoted 19, is of arc-shape and is situated adjacent and to the right of the cutaway portion 16 in Figs. 3 and 5, and a third one of which, denoted 20, is more or less straight and is situated adjacent and to the left -over the forward edge 14 of the cutaway portion 15 in said Figs. 3'and 5, between the last mentioned cutaway portion and said secend wall 19.

The second wall 19, of arc-shape, merges in a radially extending wall 21 which is in perpendicular relation to the flat forward surface 12 of the stationary base member and in spaced, parallel relation to a radially extending wall 22 in which the third, more or less straight,

wall 20 merges. The radially extending walls 21 and 22 are situated exteriorly of the substantially circular wall 13 and the circular concavity 17. Together, said radially extending walls provide a radially extending guide slot, denoted 23, open at both its interior and exterior ends and contiguous at its interior end with said circular concavity 1'7. p

The body of the base member 10 has openings therethrough, spaced at degrees apart as disclosedgfor receiving screws 24 for fixedly securing said base member upon a supporting surface therefor.

And, too, the body of the stationary base member rigidly supports a stub shaft or pivot pin 25 which extends forwardly from said body in perpendicular relation thereto and is disposed in concentric relation to the arc-shape walls 18 and 19.

The rotatable acuator member 11 consists of adiscshape body having a central opening 26 therethrough for removable reception of the stub shaft or pivot pin 25, and also having an operating handle or finger piece 27 and an actuator 23 thereon. The operating handle orfinger piece 27 is in radially spaced relation to the central. opening 26 and extends forwardly from said actuator member, at the side thereof opposite the stationary base member. The actuator 28 also is in radially spaced relation to the central opening 26 and extends rearwardly from the actuator member. The actuator is situated between said actuator member and the stationary base member, within the circular concavity 17, when said actuator member and base member are in assembled relation. Also, when the actuator member and base member are assembled, the rearward end of the actuator 28, composed as a cylindrical lug in the disclosure as made, desirably may be in adjacent relation to the flat forward surface 12 of said base member, about as disclosed in Fig. 4. The operating handle or finger piece is rotated'manually, during practical operation of the apparatus, while an inner annular marginal surface 29 of the actuator member 11 rides upon or slides of the forwardly projecting annular element 13.

The manner in which the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 5 is manipulated thus to be made operative to wind a slicing band, represented 30, into compact form will be apparent. A loop 40 of the slicing band, at an end thereof when portions of the length of the slicing band next adjacent to said loop situated in the radial guide slot 23, about as disclosed in Fig. 5. Then the actuator member is assem bled with the base member 10, by insertion of said stub shaft or pivot pin in the central opening 26, so that the actuator 28 lies in the loop of the slicing band within said circular concavity. Thereafter, the operating handle or finger piece 27 is manually rotated, in clockwise direction in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, to cause the slicing band to be wound up, from its position about as in Fig. 5 to its position as in Fig. 3. With rotative movement ahead of the actuator 28, the loop of the slicing band will be pulled along or advanced and caused to rotate about the stub shaft or pivot pin 25 while confined between said stub be slid inwardly along the radial guide slot 23 and also slid circumferentially along the internal surface of said circular element 13 until said slicing band is wound upon itself in superimposed layers about as disclosed in Fig. 3. Upon release of the operating handle or finger piece 27 after winding is completed, the loop will expand, from its tensed or stretched condition while winding is being accomplished, as in Fig. 5, to its natural condition, as in Fig. 3, and cause the actuator 28 to be kicked back somewhat from the forward end of the loop, about as in said Fig. 3. When winding is completed, superimposed portions of the length of the slicing band are firmly bound together, as by placing encircling tape 31 thereon, at the cutaway portions 15 and 16. The slicing band when bound is ready for shipment. The loop 40 is a forward loop of the slicing band. A rearward loop 41 of the slicing band is denoted 41.

Winding of a slicing band could be accomplished in the apparatus of Figs. 1 to in an instance when the member 11 was held stationary and the member rotated, in counterclockwise direction in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. Operation as hereinbefore set forth is, however, to be preferred, since with rotational movement of the member 10, the unwound portion of the slicing band would be continually rotated about the axis of said member 10. Insofar as accomplishment of winding is concerned, the stub shaft or pivot pin could as well be rigid with the actuator member 11 and free of the base member 10, because, upon completion of winding and kick-back of the actuator 28, said stub shaft or pivot pin ceases to perform any useful function. It could as well be withdrawn with the actuator member as left within the circular concavity 17. But, support of the stub shaft or pivot pin upon the base member is preferable for the reason that the loop has to be situated in the circular concavity 17 at a side of said stub shaft or pivot pin, in position to receive the actuator 28, while the actuator member is removed from the base member.

With respect to Figs. 6 to 8, the apparatus there disclosed for practicing the novel and improved method consists of a disc-shape member 33 including a fiat forward surface 34 and having a plurality of spaced posts, each denoted 35, extending forwardly from said flat forward surface and arranged in a circumference in concentric relation to a stub shaft or pivot pin 36 extending rearwardly from the disc-shape member 33 in perpendicular relation thereto. The stub shaft or pivot pin 36 is for rotatably supporting the disc-shape member 33 upon a wall, such as 37, or other fixture, as in Fig. 8.

The manner in which the apparatus of Figs. 6 to 8 is manipulated in the accomplishment of winding of a slicing band, indicated 38, into compact form also will be apparent. A loop of the slicing band, at an end thereof when folded, is placed upon and about one or more of the posts 35, with contiguous portions of the length of the slicing band next to the loop situated exteriorly of and in proximate relation to posts 35 other than that post or those posts upon and about which said loop is placed, as disclosed in Fig. 6. Then the disc-shape member 33 is manually rotated on the stub shaft or pivot pin 36 as an axis, in clockwise direction in Figs. 6 and 7, while contiguous portions of the length of the slicing band are manually retained in proximate relation to different ones of the posts 35, to cause the slicing band to be wound up on said posts, from its position as in Fig. 6 to its position as in Fig. 7. With rotative movement of the discshape member .33, the loop at the forward end of the slicing band will be advanced and caused to rotate about the stub shaft or pivot pin 36. As said loop is rotatively advanced, the doubled length of slicing band, folded upon itself, will be wound in superimposed layers upon the circumferentially arranged posts 35 about as disclosed in Fig. 7. The loop will be forced to rotate about the axis for the disc-shape member 33 upon commencement of the winding operation by reason of engagement of one or more of the posts 35 with an internal surface or with internal surfaces of the slicing band inside the loop at the forward end of said slicing band. Thereafter, with the winding of superimposed lengths of the slicing band upon said posts, said loop at the forward end of said slicing band will be confined by said superimposed lengths. During the winding operation, the slicing band will be reduced in size and shaped to have compact form. Upon completion of winding, superimposed portions of the length of the slicing band are secured to each other, as by placing encircling tape 39 thereon, at spaced apart locations. As shown, there is a first encircling tape at the forward interior loop of the slicing band and a second encircling tape adjacent to a rearward exterior loop of said slicing band.

In the instance of each form of the invention, both as in Figs. 1 to 5 and as in Figs. 6 to 8, the method of winding is substantially the same. The slicing band is shaped to provide a forward loop by bending portions of said slicing band at the rear of said forward loop one upon the other. The doubled-up portions are wound upon each other. The winding of said doubled-up portions upon each other causes the slicing band to be so shaped as to provide a rearward loop. And the forward and rearward loops are bound to the wound doubled-up portions of said slicing band, and said wound doubled-up portions are bound to each other, to provide a compactly wound and securely bound slicing band having a first loop at one end thereof situated interiorly and in the plane of the Wound doubled-up portions and a second loop at the other end of the slicing band situated exteriorly and in the plane of said wound doubled-up portions.

What is claimed is:

An apparatus for winding an intermediate doubled-up portion of an endless band of flexible and resilient material into compact form upon itself with forward and rearward loops of the endless band at opposite ends of and situated, respectively, interiorly and exteriorly of said intermediate doubled'up portion when wound, comprising a base member, an actuator member, a pin supporting said actuator member upon said base member for rotative movement and engageable with an internal surface of the doubled-up portion of the endless band, means upon said base member for circumferentially confining said endless band engageable with an external surface of said doubledup portion, guide members upon the base member exteriorly of said means engageable with both said internal and external surfaces of the doubled-up portion, and an actuator upon said actuator member between said pin and means in spaced relation to each receivable within said forward loop and operable in response to forward rotative movement of said actuator member to cause said endless band to be moved bodily forwardly of said guide members, said internal and external surfaces of said doubledup portion to slide over said pin and said means respective ly, and said doubled-up portion to be wound upon itself in spaced, encircling relation to said pin at the side of said actuator adjacent said means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 578,205 Brown et al. Mar. 2, 1897 1,001,208 Mercer Aug. 22, 1911 1,263,798 Otto Apr. 23, 1918 2,099,153 Walker Nov. 16, 1937 2,501,201 Wilcox Mar. 21, 1950 2,634,919 Strassler Apr. 14, 1953 

